scholarly journals The diachrony of complex predicates

Diachronica ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 161-185 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claire Bowern
Keyword(s):  
The State ◽  
Complex Predicates ◽  
Light Verbs ◽  
Complex Predicate ◽  
Light Verb ◽  
Stable Structures ◽  
State Of The Field

While complex predicate constructions, including light verb structures and verb serialisation, are found in many of the world’s languages, there has been little diachronic work on these structures to date. In this paper I survey the state of the field and describe current ideas on the origins and development of complex predicates. In particular, I show that the assumption of cline-like development from parataxis to affix (through serialisation, light verbs and auxiliation) is too simplistic. Finally, I review arguments in favor of and against views of light verbs as stable structures.

scholarly journals First Phase Syntax of Persian Complex Predicates: Argument Structure and Telicity

Nordlyd ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marina Pantcheva
Keyword(s):  
Argument Structure ◽  
Complex Predicates ◽  
Light Verbs ◽  
Complex Predicate ◽  
Light Verb

In this paper, I propose an analysis of Persian complex predicates, based on the First Phase Verbal syntax developed by Ramchand (2008). I suggest that the light verbs lexicalize the subevent heads into which the verbal phrase is decomposed, while the preverbal element occupies the Rheme position and semantically unifies with the light verb to build one joint predication. Further, I propose a feature specification for some of the most productive light verbs. I argue that the light verb is responsible for the argument structure of the entire predicate (in line with Megerdoomian 2002b, Folli et al. 2005), while the aspectual properties of the complex predicate depend on the interaction between the preverb and the light verb.

The syntax of argument structure: Evidence from Italian complex predicates

2012 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 93-125 ◽  
Author(s):  
RAFFAELLA FOLLI ◽  
HEIDI HARLEY
Keyword(s):  
Argument Structure ◽  
Complex Predicates ◽  
Bottom Up ◽  
Light Verbs ◽  
Light Verb ◽  
Syntactic Approach ◽  
The Subject

This paper provides an analysis of Italian complex predicates formed by combining a feminine nominalization in -ata and one of three light verbs: fare ‘make’, dare ‘give’ and prendere ‘take’. We show that the constraints governing the choice of light verb follow from a syntactic approach to argument structure, and that several interpretive differences between complex and simplex predicates formed from the same verb root can be accounted for in a compositional, bottom–up approach. These differences include variation in creation vs. affected interpretations of Theme objects, implications concerning the size of the event described, the (un)availability of a passive alternant, and the agentivity or lack thereof of the subject argument.

scholarly journals Complex predicates: Structure, potential structure and underspecification

2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefan Müller
Keyword(s):  
Categorial Grammar ◽  
Complex Predicates ◽  
Actual Structure ◽  
Light Verbs ◽  
Light Verb ◽  
Potential Structure ◽  
Lexical Items

This paper compares a recent TAG-based analysis of complex predicates in Hindi/Urdu with its HPSG analog. It points out that TAG combines actual structure while HPSG (and Categorial Grammar and other valence-based frameworks) specify valence of lexical items and hence potential structure. This makes it possible to have light verbs decide which arguments of embedded heads get realized, something that is not possible in TAG. TAG has to retreat to disjunctions instead. While this allows straight-forward analyses of active/passive alternations based on the light verb in valence-based frameworks, such an option does not exist for TAG and it has to be assumed that preverbs come with different sets of arguments.

scholarly journals Complex predicates and light verb constructions in Modern Irish

2014 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 140-167 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian Nolan
Keyword(s):  
Argument Structure ◽  
Complex Predicates ◽  
Form Complex ◽  
Light Verbs ◽  
Role And Reference Grammar ◽  
Light Verb Constructions ◽  
Light Verb ◽  
Verb Constructions ◽  
The Matrix ◽  
Matrix Verb

This paper characterises complex predicates and light verb constructions in Modern Irish. Light verbs are attested in many of the world’s languages (Alsina, Bresnan & Sells, 2001; Butt, 1995, 2003). Cross linguistically, there appears to be a common class of verbs involved in these constructions and generally there is agreement that light verbs contribute to the formation of complex predicates. Light verbs seem have a non-light or ‘heavy’ verb counterpart. In this paper we discuss the light verb constructions (LVC) as found in modern Irish and how they form complex predicates. We claim that the light verb (LV) encodes the event process initiation (or cause) and the matrix verb indicates the bounded component or result. In light verb constructions, the matrix verb appears in Modern Irish syntax as a verbal-noun form. The function of light verbs in these constructions is to modulate the event and sub-event semantics. We distinguish between auxiliary verbs constructions (AVC) and those constructions involving complex predicated and light verbs (Aikhenvald & Dixon, 2006; Anderson, 2006). We provide evidence based on an analysis of Irish data that shows how aspect and argument structure considerations are resolved for the complex predicate within the light verb construction via the linking system between semantics and syntax. We motivate a functional account, based on Role and Reference Grammar (Nolan, 2012; Nolan & Diedrichsen, 2013; Van Valin, 2005; Van Valin & LaPolla, 1997), that appeals to the analysis of complex predicates within a consideration of the layered structure of the clause.

Islamic Art and Archaeology

1968 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 4-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oleg Grabar
Keyword(s):  
The State ◽  
Arts And Crafts ◽  
Islamic Art ◽  
Problems And Solutions ◽  
Fair Degree ◽  
State Of The Field

Like most other fields, the study of Islamic art is both the beneficiary and the victim of its own past. Like many fields, it is affected in various more or less successful ways by developments and needs in related areas of learning. Like all fields, it is tied to the quality and idiosyncrasies of the men who practice it. Inasmuch as bibliographical surveys according to traditional lines of techniques and periods are available (Pearson, Index Islamicus with supplements, London, 1958, 1962, 1968; especially K.A.C. Creswell, A Bibliography of the Architecture, Arts and Crafts of Islam, Cairo, 1961) and current works are listed with a fair degree of completeness in the yearly Abstracta Islamica published by the Revue des Etudes Islamiques, my concern in this paper will be to review the state of the field, the ways in which one can find out about it, and the work being done according to three major categories: traditional techniques and documentation; new problems and solutions; light and dark areas of research.

scholarly journals Geothermal Energy: a glimpse at the state of the field and an introduction to the journal

2013 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Olaf Kolditz ◽  
Leslie A Jakobs ◽  
Ernst Huenges ◽  
Thomas Kohl
Keyword(s):  
Geothermal Energy ◽  
The State ◽  
State Of The Field

Simple Monotransitive and Complex Dative Alternation Predicates in Spanish Monolingual Child Acquisition Data

Probus ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Silvia Sánchez Calderón
Keyword(s):  
Relative Frequency ◽  
Syntactic Complexity ◽  
Complex Predicates ◽  
Case Assignment ◽  
Internal Argument ◽  
Complex Predicate ◽  
Link Type ◽  
Dative Alternation ◽  
First Occurrence ◽  
Shed Light

Abstract This work analyzes the acquisition of simple and complex constructions in Spanish monolingual children’s data. It examines the emergence and the role played by adult input in child production of simple monotransitive constructions when compared to two types of complex predicates that undergo dative alternation (DA), namely, a/para-datives and dative-clitic doubled (DCLD) structures. In order to shed light on these issues, we have analyzed data from Spanish monolingual children and from the adults that they interact with, as available in CHILDES (MacWhinney, Brian. 2000. The CHILDES project: Tools for analyzing talk [Dataset], 3rd edn. Mahwah: Lawrence Erlbaum. http://childes.talkbank.org (accessed 20 October 2019)). The results show that there is an order in the onset of simple and complex predicate constructions, as reflected in the earlier emergence of monotransitives when compared to DA constructions. The latter also show a subsequent order of first occurrence, namely, DCLDs before a/para-datives. Thus, the degree of syntactic complexity seems to have played a role in the acquisition of simple and complex constructions, as measured by the number of Case assignment relations between the verb and its internal argument(s). Moreover, the differences in the Spanish monolingual children’s incidence of the three structures under analysis do not appear to be explained by the relative frequency of exposure in the adult input.

The State of the Field: Taishang Studies

2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 81-142
Author(s):  
Yousun Chung ◽  
Sun Wook Chung ◽  
Young Hee Chang
Keyword(s):  
The State ◽  
State Of The Field
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